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6 Ways to Handle Yourself When Your Boss Quits

Your boss’ resignation can come as a shock. It will, without doubt, affect your day-to-day activity at the company. You can find yourself questioning your future in the company. It is normal to feel insecure about your future and how things might change with a new boss replacing your old boss. The important thing to begin with, is to assess and understand the situation, welcome the changes that might be brought and adjust your role to embrace the new changes. Here are helpful ways to handle the situation:

1. Don’t Overreact

When your boss announces they are quitting the company may lead to panic among you and other employees. However, changes within the company can be a positive thing. It can be for the better and your boss’ departure does not indicate that your departure is next. Keeping your morale and focus at this stage is crucial. There might be tons of discussions and rumors among the employees that could create fear and concerns. Stay calm and focus on the directions provided by the upper management.

2. Research on What Comes Next

Your current position might be affected in a positive or negative way after your boss resigns. However, before you begin updating your CV and commence your job search, you need to know exactly what comes after their exit. Your boss could have quit unexpectedly and therefore not be able to talk with you directly about the departure or what to expect. If your boss affected your day to day activities directly, you might need to contact your HR concerning the next steps, and how your work will be affected.

3. Take It as an Opportunity

Whenever there is a team change, there’s also an opportunity for career growth. So if your boss leaves unexpectedly, you can use this opportunity to show upper management that you’re committed to the company and you can fill the shoes of your old boss. However, you should be careful in your approach to avoid misunderstandings. You can offer to pick up some of your boss’s tasks until the role is filled.

4. Stay Professional

When it is announced that your boss has quit, a lot of gossip and rumours might spread in the office. Be professional and stay away from these discussions while at work and instead focus on ensuring their departure doesn’t affect your performance. It won’t be nice if you jeopardize your career in the organisation by spreading rumours or telling everyone what you are unsure of. Be professional and diplomatic and if by any chance you are happy to see them go, keep it to yourself.

5. Be Flexible during the Transition Period

During this time, you should expect schedules to change and you might need to put extra hours during the transition. If you are assigned some of your boss’s tasks, you need to be ready for them. However, you need to make sure that you are being treated fairly. You can discuss with the HR a fair compensation if the tasks you are required to perform will take too much of your time, energy and extra sacrifice.

6. Meet Your New Boss and Demonstrate Your Ability.

After your boss quits, the company might already have a replacement or promote someone to handle the position during this interim period. Avoid comparisons and focus to build a stronger relationship with your new boss. Ensure you have enough time with your new boss and let him/her know your responsibilities, the projects that you are working on, and what you can offer. The new manager will want to know the value that you bring into the team. Find out and understand his/her expectations of you and work on the way forward to achieve them.

Mustapha Mosha

Mustapha Ally is a Community Manager at Zoom and Brighter Monday Tanzania, loves Digital Marketing and SM